How big is Alaska?

How does Alaska compare to Virginia?

• You could fit 15 Virginias into one Alaska!

Facts: Alaska vs. Virginia

Water & Coastline• Alaska has 250 times as much inland water (in

lakes, reservoirs, and rivers) as Virginia. In fact, Alaska has 3 million lakes that are over twenty acres in size.

• Alaska has more than 50% of the entire U.S. coastline, or 6,640 miles. Virginia has 112 miles of coastline!

Alaska vs. Virginia

Population Density• Virginia has 175 times more people per

square mile.• If Virginia's population density were the same

as Alaska’s, only 42,273 people would live in Virginia rather than 7,386,330 (based on 2003 data).

Alaska vs. Virginia

Air Travel• Alaska has 5.6 times more active pilots per

capita than Virginia.• Alaska has 102 seaplane bases, far more than

any other state.

Biomes of Alaska

Petersburg, Alaska

Facts about Petersburg

• Petersburg is located amid the forested islands and mountains of Alaska’s Inside Passage on the northern tip of Mitkof Island.

• It’s a small, town with about 3,100 permanent residents, located in the heart of the Tongass National Forest.

• Major industry is fishing: all species of salmon, halibut, crab and shrimp

Facts about Petersburg

• Average annual rainfall is about 110 inches (compared to the average in Pulaski – 38 inches)

History of Petersburg

• Tlingit hunter and fishermen lived in the area surrounding Petersburg at least 2000 years ago.

• At low tide you can see the remains of their ancient fish traps and petroglyphs in areas near town.

• In 1897, Norwegian pioneer Peter Buschmann discovered the area and started the first cannery.

• Today, Petersburg remains one of the premier fishing ports in Alaska and the U.S.

Fishing Industry in Petersburg

• Alaska supplies more than half of the wild-caught seafood in the U.S.

• Alaska is home to the greatest salmon runs in the world.

Committed to Sustainability

What is sustainable seafood?It is seafood that is managed and fished

using practices that ensure there will always be more to catch in the future.

Two basic principles:• Care is taken to not harm marine life or

the environment• Fish populations are never overfished.

Salmon Life Cycle

• http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/animals/fish-animals/bony-fish/salmon_sockeye/